DIY Blackboard Serving Tray

Here is my little DIY Blackboard Serving Tray. Or DIY Chalkboard Serving Platter for my American friends. But, it always be a blackboard to me (even if it’s green). You see, I grew up in the Mr Squiggle era. Hurry up, hurry up!

This is another project from earlier this year, pre-blog, so unfortunately I don’t have a “before” photo. (I wonder if I’m going to start defining the periods of my life as pre-blog & post-blog now???)

I bought this gorgeous little tray from The Salvos for about $1 or $2. I like the edge detail. Would you call that scalloped?

Then I popped over to the local hardware to pick up some supplies. (Supplies! Sorry, that’s a bit of an old joke around our house… As you can tell, I’m a in a bit of a sleep-deprived delirium today. Or should I say tonight? Or this morning? It’s 4.11am…)

The 1 Step Primer isn’t technically the best primer for metal, but I figured that I wanted a primer that I could use again on multiple surface types.

All I did was

1. clean and dry the tray.
2. paint on the primer and wait a day
3. paint on the first coat of blackboard paint and wait a day
4. paint on the second coat of blackboard paint and wait a day
5. rub a piece of chalk all over the tray to set it

When I bought the tray, I hadn’t realised that the etching on the trays surface would show through. But now I kinda like it. It doesn’t stop the chalk from working, and adds detail.

Look closely to see the swirly etching under the blackboard paint

JJ demonstrating how it works.

Which then spontaneously turned into a singing & dancing rendition of Jingle Jangle Scarecrow song. #livingwithatoddler

In case you don’t know the nursery rhyme:

When all the cows are sleeping

And the sun has gone to bed

Up jumps the scarecrow

And this is what he said

“I’m a dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat

I can shake my hands like this

And shake my feet like that”

When all the hens are roosting

And the moon’s behind a cloud

Up jumped the scarecrow

And shouted very loud

“I’m a dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat

I can shake my hands like this

And shake my feet like that”

Cuteness!  And yes, she is wearing some of my scrap fabric as robe…

Now I’m on the lookout for some more interesting trays to convert to blackboards and add to my collection. Trouble is that I don’t want to pay more than $2 a tray, and I’m super picky about the ones I like….

Will let you know how I go.

xx Danya